We are Niagara Health is a series of stories that celebrates the incredible people working and volunteering in our organization and how they make a difference in the lives of patients and coworkers every day.
Katelyn Page, a social worker in the Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine (RAAM) Clinic, was well-acquainted with Niagara Health prior to joining the organization in 2015.
Katelyn Page was born -- and in a lot of ways raised -- at Niagara Health.
Her mom, Jane Marie, has worked at the hospital for nearly 30 years as a recreational therapist, and her dad, Tim, for 12 years as an environmental services aide. She has vivid memories of visiting her parents at work. The way they felt about their jobs, colleagues and the organization left a lasting impression on her.
“When you see your parents love where they work, it’s an amazing feeling,” she says. “It was so inspiring and made me fall in love with Niagara Health, too. It’s like a second home to me.”
Living near the Marotta Family Hospital, she saw its construction from the ground up. Before the hospital officially opened in 2013, she got to accompany her parents on a tour, further igniting her love for the organization.
She would start at Niagara Health just two years later in Food Services, working part-time while pursuing both her Bachelor and Master of Social Work.
“I started my career at Niagara Health, which is where I knew I wanted to be,” Page says. “I didn’t know exactly where my feet were going to land, but I dreamt of working somewhere in Mental Health and Addictions.”
She has worked in a variety of areas across the hospital, most recently as a social worker in the Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine (RAAM) Clinic.
"We all have our struggles, and access to care and resources is crucial to overcoming them.”
The RAAM Clinic provides rapid access to care for people seeking help with any substance or alcohol use. The clinical team provides assessments and treatment for use of substances such as alcohol, opioids, cocaine, benzodiazepines and cannabis.
“I’ve had friends who struggled with mental health and addictions,” she says. “I’ve always wanted to help people, and even if I’m not supporting those people directly, I know I’m making a difference. We all have our struggles, and access to care and resources is crucial to overcoming them.”
Like her parents, Page looks forward to going into work every day. She credits Brenda Yeandle, Clinical Services Manager, for making that possible.
“I’m not looking forward to clocking out when I clock in,” says Page. “Brenda always puts her team first. The relationships I’ve built at Niagara Health have been amazing. There are so many opportunities to grow left, right and centre, and the management teams are here to help you grow throughout your career journey.”
As a social worker for RAAM, Page primarily works in the inpatient unite and Emergency Department. She connects patients to the RAAM Clinic to help them deal with their addictions. She also provides case management and assessments for patients and answers any questions they have.
“Sometimes, patients might have a referral to go to RAAM and may be feeling at their lowest,” she says. “We want people to succeed, and we do everything we can to help them do that.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of her role is seeing patients return who are in recovery.
“To be a part of a program that helps people get to the opposite side of the mountain they’re on is a privilege,” Page says. “I don’t take a single moment of it for granted.”
